%%USERNAME%%    %%ACCWORDS%% %%ONOFF%% |
 |   A place where everybody can feel easily offended - my head! |
|
I'm gathering quite a collection of blogs. "Invalid Item"  is a bit-of-a-rant. I've got a big gob, and it would be a shame not to use it. "Invalid Item" is just that. It's the product of the bits of me mentioned above  filtered through my subconscious."Invalid Item" dealing with all things to do with battling sexes, especially exes.Want to know something trivial or obscure? Not really bothered about whether it's right or wrong, as long as it's believable? ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** WELCOME TO THE HUMAN GOOGLE!  I may never have mastered the art of tying shoelaces, but I win every time I play Trivial Persuit. Friends place bets on how many people I can, unintentionally, upset on a night out. I am the place where boundless enthusiasm meets embarrassing arrogance. Important Information - Please Read I realise some folk do not get Satire. I love a little baffoonery and believe, rather like the jesters of old, you can say quite a lot more than kings when people think you are an idiot. If you are literal minded, best not read on. If you can tell your arse from your elbow, and recognise when an attack isn't an attack then please read:
Heck, even if you can't tell your appendages from one another, read it anyway: who am I to tell you what you can do and what to take from my writing?  The XGC rating is due to the unknown content of many minds - it may be fluffy bunnies or....not! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED Welcome to my world! Acme  ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** http://twitter.com/acmetweet Skype me at acmetoo template thing-a-ma-bob: {c:green}Write{/c}: {c:green}Edit{/c}: {c:green}Kids{/c}: {c:green}Relationships{/c}: {c:green}Physical{/c}: {c:green}FFF{/c}: |
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I love lines which pigeon-hole, succinctly. One of my favourites is one of Paul McKenna's (British hypnotist) *excuse me while I paraphrase* "There are two kinds of people to a hypnotist: those who watch Star Trek, and those who watch Coronation Street; you cannot hypnotise the ones who watch Corie..." Guess which one I am?  Oh, there was a time I loved to don one of my uniforms, or grab a batleth1 and run into a convention with my wild Klingon 'fro and scare the bar staff... Oh, the fond memory of a sea of Blue Coats at Pontins being made to join in STTNG drinking games2"There is one kind of person who goes to a convention: someone who wants to play with other kids who like the same game..." I'm excited. "There are two kinds of excited Acme: the incoherent babbling one, and the one who can't shut up about how excited they are." I've met some smashing people here at WDC. Some of them are from countries so far away the moon seems closer, and some of them are on my doorstep. I get to meet the beautiful zwisis next week  I've booked the time off from one of my clients, and the hubby is home to babysit the kids. All that is left for me to do is to book into a hotel and travel down to meet her on British soil. Gosh, I'm so last minute - even though I know this has been coming for some time. The whole event has liberated me. It makes me want to meet everyone on this marvelous site, and I cross everything (including googley eyes) that one day my 'fro and I can run to the bar at a WDC convention (probably with a loaded biro, rather than a batleth). Which leads me to my final general, sweeping, supposition: "There are two kinds of patience3: one which most normal people could just keep, bide, not move, not worry, wait, wait, wait, wait..., and then the kind that makes some other people want to wee with excitement." Guess which one I am? Footnotes |
I think its time to move on. I brushed myself down and got back on the horse and the world turns better after a good nights sleep  Thanks to all of those who could recognise my confusion and supported me. Now, when a wounded animal lashes out their own pain may make them blinded to the fact they wound another animal in return. What happens next? The second animal lashes out too? I really am sorry for the way the darn thing escalated, but something good has come out of this. I remembered why I'm here. I love this site. Sure, things will sometimes go skew-iff (squoo-wiff...? Aw, heck! That's one of my favourite words, but don't have the fainest idea where to start with it  ). I love the way that we are all so very different, and have different expectations of our place here, and what we want from it. Diversity is key. I wouldn't want to have the same opinions as everyone else, and I wouldn't want to be restricted to how I expressed my own, or how others do the same. Most of my moral guidance has been cultured through the comic books (seriously! Heck look at Uncle Ben's dying speech to Peter Parker), but 2000AD gave me everything else. I think it was Deadlock who said the anarchistic credo of : "Do what thou wilt, provided thou harm none." (If it wasn't I apologise  )So, hand on my Button Man collections, I shall remember that advice as I wander this fantastic site. I've always said Button Man would make an excellent film... after all, the story board is already done! And talking of films... (notes smooth link  ) I had an ace time at the Indiana Jones film today. Oh, the film was good, not great, but good*; I mean I had an ace time at the cinema today. We hired a VIP box as a cheaper alternative to regular seats for a big party (the extended Acme clan went too). If it hadn't been against the rules to have photographic equipment there I would be showing you a before and after photograph ) You try telling a four and five year-old kids not to put hands, dripping in nacho cheese and chocolate, all over the glass... and then there was the first cola spill, followed by the popcorn tip up, and ending in the great salsa flood of '08... Gawd, I felt so sorry for the people who had to clean that place up. Don't get me wrong! We moped with tissues, scooped up with paper, and rubbed off with gusto, but after a 2 and a half hour film... I still kept my head down as we left.* a good film leaves me satisfied. I have suspended my believe, rolled with the actors and jumped/laughed in all the right places. a great film makes me leave the cinema wishing I had a bullwhip and aiming my wrists at street lights in the hope web-shooters will activate. In fact, afer I saw 'Gladiator' I couldn't go into a chip shop with out saying, "Pudding, peas and chips AND I will have my gravy..." ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| I read this: "Invalid Entry" By the author of this: "Invalid Item" And agreeing with the principal I wrote this public review: Flippin' heck, Esprit! Now, that's what I call a refreshing POV. zwisis pointed it out to me after I had a bit of a rant and it's reassuring to see this helpful and thought-provoking opinion. Just a couple of things, because they jumped out at me: if a writer wants to be "good", it's capitalisation needed for 'If' time either,, and I sure don't - punctuation typo "One good review a day" is an easy to accomplish motto for many members, and one I shall certainly keep in mind. Write on and take care, Acme And then I received this: You're editing a BLOG? Isn't there any place to go to simply rant, relax or place a thought or two without stressing over a damn comma or capital letter? Good grief! Yes, I saw a review of your rant on the public page and read it myself. Those are fun to write and popular too, aren't they? They get high marks from all readers and wonderful approving replies. It's great fun to laugh and put reviewers down because they don't count anyway. It's not like they're real members or anything. They don't have feelings like members do. Well, perhaps the Last One Standing has finally gotten the message and will stop trying to help. After all, there's no sure way to know who wants help and who doesn't until after the fact. By then it's too late. Erm, are they putting this reviewer down? I thought perhaps I was a little paranoid, as emails can not be judged by 'tone', and this may be an attempt at satire... So, I thanked them for the lovely GPs and added: Thank you for the gift points, Esprit. As for editing a blog... What can I say? Erm, sorry? I guess my reviewing mentality needs to be reviewed. However, if you do want a place to rant I believe the Angry Rant contest is most accommodating (or you could just shoot me an email and I'll take in on the chin*)Am I jaded? Should I continue? I may not feel the sting as much as I used to, but I do feel every review I have given has been in an effort to offer my thoughts/perspective as constructively as possible. Why? Because I would like the same courtesy extended to me! I love poetry (don't panic, I won't try too hard to actually write it!), and have only recently felt brave enough to start reviewing it again, because of some of the attacks I received in the past after making suggestions for improvement, where the requirement of the form wasn't met . There is a wonderful reviewer and she is such a gentle soul, easily hurt by personal attack, but none-the-less, someone who continues to offer what she knows to help support and encourage writers develop their craft. I'll be the first to hold my hand up and say I have improved so much in technical areas because of reviewers like her. I don't pretend to know more than I do, and am one of those people who crave the constructive review. Between us, we have developed a pretty good understanding of delivering an honest review, as politely as possible. It's taken time, but we have also built up a realisation that we can't be held accountable for how people react. Now, it's funny your blog touched on the subject of 'free/paid' reviews, because my concrete jaw has only come about by working with this person as a gp paid review team. Even though the gps are minimal and do not directly benefit us (they go to on-site review groups) I feel a little braver and my hide a little thicker because the reviewee actually is prepared to ask us for a review. *which I have recently found is made of concrete rather than the glass one I started off out with as a newbie...  Write on and take care, Acme (real human being who feels pretty crappy right now) I like transparency which is why I try to make all my reviews public and which is why I am making this apology public: If I have inadvertently hurt you in any way, Esprit, I am truly sorry. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| Ever recognise the fact you are wrong? I have. A swift reminder of the individuals rights to express themselves how they wish was eloquently delivered in katherine76's blog. Here's my comment to ammend the original rant below. Oh, and "I'm sorry Scroll" - (erm, seriously. I'm not being sarcastic, for once.) I love this site too, there is something for everyone, and I have made some wonderful friends and read some wonderful writing. I love that there is so much energy here and people wanting to foster that spirit of excitement which comes with writing, reviewing, and playing! I actually had a go at someones shocking manners in scroll recently, but do you know what: I WAS WRONG!  and I'm glad I can recognise that and change my perspective. Everyone has a "right to write"... or not to! SM and SMs have given us a playground, and it's up to each of us to look after the rides we play on, whether that ride is the Public Review Page, Scroll, Contests, Product Reviews, Blogs and Forums. Well said Kathy, I'm gonna copy this comment and shove it under my own nose to remind me to count my blessings and enjoy the ride WARNING: MOANING WHINGEBAG WITH SOME SWEARING Ever bit your lip so hard you bit through it? It's a metaphor... although not always with me, which is why I point it out I'm grumpier than a bag of terriers, kicked about by rabbits and then made to dress up cute for photographs with Paris Hilton... yup, grumpier than tmray RANDOM THOUGHTFUL HOPE: "Why? When everyone else is whinging, you are normally so chipper?" ANGRY ACME: "True. However, I will take pains to point out the Bio Block which has sat in my port since I arrived at Writing.Com: I'm a typically cynical British author tinged with the arrogant optimism that only comes from having the mind of a teenage boy trapped inside the body of a really hot chick. I'm also delusional. The facts: I write, I read and I believe that all spelling is elective. Not much offends, but I do like good manners and a well turned out appearance on a battlefield." So here's the thing: GOOD MANNERS COST NOTHING AND HAVE A VALUE FAR EXCEEDING MATERIAL MEASURE. Let me take you on a trip to scroll...*times and names are not real... well, apart from my name, because I was there and this blog is about that  Hey scroll! Anyone around? 11.00am* *pokes lurkers with friendship stick* 11.05am Hi Acme how are you? It's me (nice person who you chat to randomly on other side of globe). Kinda quiet in here isn't it 11.05am(IM)Yeah, but those scrollies watch 'ya, you know. They yawn if you don't entertain them and [x] you if you don't fit in... Let's check for lurkers! 11.06am (back to scroll) *pokes lurkers to say "hello" and smiles * 11.10amThere's only us, Acme! 11.11am Cool! We can play! Here's a bot! 11.12am Bot no sooner up with 9999k of GPs when it turns red as solved. Oh, sorry you missed out, Mr Nice Person Who You Chat To Randomly On The Other Side Of The Globe. Congratulations, Scrollie 1 (winner of 5449 gps, or something)! How are you today, Scroll bot winner? 11.13am *tumble weed blows through scroll* Sorry for missing all the action, Acme; I'm just not quick enough! 1.14am No worries, Mr Nice Person Who You Chat To Randomly On The Other Side Of The Globe! 11.15am *1 more game, 1 more wins by Scrollie 1 - still no communication'* Hey, Scrollie 1! Are you just lurking and botting, or are you going to come and say hello? 11.18am11.20am 11.22am 11.24am *2 more games are won by Scrollie 1 - still no communication'* I couldn't bite my tongue. Scrollie 1? You have reminded me why I don't come in here to play that often. You haven't even had the manners to say 'Hello', nevermind 'Thank you'. 11.25am Oh, thanks. No worries It's nice to put two words next to your suitcase 11.26amI wouldn't mind but they had been a Premium Member here since 2005 and made about 15k in gift points. Now, I'm not interested in buying friendships and I don't do things to receive thanks, but I think its flippin' rude to ignore someone talking to you while you take gps off them. I don't earn those gift points by lurking and taking, I review and I buy 'em, and on any other day I wouldn't give a shit about one persons rudeness... But this wasn't any other day. This was a day which when a deadline for requests for help from a Group I have poured love, sweat, and... well, I think the sweat's enough, into, came and passed. A group where the people running it have given up their writing time to help/support/encourage others in their writing. A group where members receive Merit Badges just for having birthdays, christmas presents just for being counted as a member (active or not). They also get a chance at a monthly lottery to be reviewed by the other members of their group, which should give them 45 reviews if everyone just gave up a couple of minutes to review ONE item a month... and this months reviewee has had *... drum roll ...* 2 people review them! Oh, and when we sent out a group survey asking for thoughts/ideas/help to make improvements we got 13 replies. People don't seem to want to write, and when Scarlett sent out a call for work for the Blogville News I wrote the article below for her, because I know how it feels when you are pissing into the wind This is a community. The same people who whinge about not receiving reviews, don't feckin' review others. Some members have to REMIND writers to give a shit about being positive and doing something nice for the sake of it (don't you think they'd rather be writing too?) The same people who whinge about not having anything to do DON'T FECKIN' WRITE. Well, I've done forty odd reviews over the past couple of days to earn enough gift points to hand out Merit Badges and ribbons to writers who HAVE written to learn, grow and take part willingly in my contest. I have decided to concentrate my efforts where they are needed and not with greedy folk in scroll, and in groups with terminal apathy. Here endeth the sermonising whinge of Acme and normal service is now resumed. How the heck are y'all? ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| Ever remember your first coffee? First kiss? First ghost story? I remember the first time I heard the boot quaking words The Great American Novel (TGAN). I was new to Writing.com, and had joined to pen serious poetry which was bound to see me renowned the world over as global bard. Guess what? Similar to Holy Grail stories, I started hearing about TGAN. Being British, I wanted to write it. Ho-hum... However, it got me to thinking about my journey as a writer and what my Holy Grail was. In real life (outside of WDC) I started out as a guitarist in a local rock band, who just so happened to write the songs for the band. I experienced the miracle of aftershow parties and soon became a pregnant guitarist with a local rock band, which is when the lead singer got 'tired and emotional', turned round to the record company executive who wanted to sign us and said "Don't waste yer time love, she's up the duff, so there won't be no touring!" Apart from a few session musician gigs, there ended my career in the music industry, but the poetry bug had bitten me, and having found satirical/political lyrics fun (Billy Bragg, Elvis Costello, Morrissey etc) I found comedy as natural as breathing. Soon, my attention span developed to include short stories and a friend advised me to join WDC. I had no ambition. I wanted to write to see if I could and see if anyone laughed at the same things I did. However, I get distracted easily and this place is HUGE. There are members from all over the surface of the planet, and there became a tendency in me to think big... November 2007 came and with it National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) People began asking, "Are you doing it? Are ya? Well, are ya, huh?" Which became translated in my head as:"YOU HAVE TO WRITE A NOVEL". "Erm, maybe next time...?" I answered, but wasn't convinced. I could hear the whispers ... "... real writers are doing NaNo... real writers are going to write The Great American Novel... I bet Stephen King is writing under a pseudonym again, just to have another crack at it..." There was definitely a Holy Grail pursuit, similar to the Land Rush. It took me a while to back off and remember several points: 1. National Novel Writing Month is not INTERnational Novel Writing Month 2. Penguin (publishing house, not ⭐Princette♥PengthuluWrites  ) will not come after me if I don't write a novel.3. I might not qualify for the title of The Great American Novelist because I'm not American... 4. Erm, do I want to write a novel? My received reviews were changing too. When I first joined the site I thought reviewers saw me like this: Reviewer: "Ooh, look, a Newbie! Thank goodness for that; I thought I would never get my rating average back down to four stars. I'll go in, give 'em a quick two star handshake, and be back to 'serious reviewer' status in no time!" When November arrived I couldn't be considered a Newbie anymore, so was forced to face the fact my low ratings were probably more to do with my spelinge and, penchant, for; inappropriate! punctuation...?! Reviews are like tides, they tend to ebb and flow with the seasons and reviewers focus on particular areas for a time. In the autumn of 2007 they were all similar to this: Reviewer: "Aah, less than 10kbs... (one of those Flash Fiction writers  ) 'Acme, this story has great potential to be developed, but you are selling it short by keeping it short. It doesn't feel finished because it hasn't taken me a fortnight to read and there appears to be no prequel or sequel... Let me know when you have amended it for consideration as The Next Great American Novel'"I still feel as if the be all and end all of writing sometimes pushes me to believe my Holy Grail should be to write a novel and get published, but there are many reasons people write and those just aren't mine. I really wanted to have a bit of fun and make a couple of people laugh along the way. Heck, I would have settled for making a few folk angry! Now, in real life I work with kids as a Youth Leader, and earn money by being an administrator. I have a smashing hubby, a lovely home, an expanding waist due to contentment. However, I do realise others write as a form of therapy, or to communicate ideas, or to hone and develop skills. Whatever reason you write for, remember It's your reason. That fact alone makes it the right write. I could go on about how to react to reviews, but each review is different and people gain different things from them. When I look at the writer I started life out as, I hold my hands up and say, "Yes! My writing has improved because I've learned from feedback and constructive criticism." But I've also found myself steered down different pathways which I didn't want to go. So. Are you ready for my conclusion? My name is Acme, and I do not want to write The Great American Novel.  *sighs* There, that feels a whole lot better! "Big doesn't mean great, and great doesn't mean big..." Jim Collins ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| I was chatting in email to a wonderful mate of mine. She wrote about an incident where someone with a disability felt sorry for her having a temporary disfigurement (don't panic, she's on the mend and will be her beautiful, angelic self soon ). Keep in mind, mine and my friend's emails out-shine much of my writing efforts at WDC, and I hope she is keeping them for when I'm dead so my posthumous career can take off. Well, I got to thinking about counting my blessings, and I know I have it really good. Why? I ain't posthumously anything, yet. Daily, I hear moaning, and whinging, about this, that and the other, and I just want to scream, "Suck it up and smell the roses, people! We are alive!" Zim, Burma, South China (heck, plain old fashioned drought, famine and clean drinking water), and closer to home I have good friends who face the challenges of raising children with illness/disabilities and do so with grace, hope and joy. Even if I am to look more selfishly and focus on my family, I think of my Mother facing her cancer and grabbing precious moments/memories/experiences as much as she can. She takes the Acme kids camping in Wales this weekend, and will climb Snowdon with them. Life is such a fragile thing, taken so easily for granted, and while we all wait for the StoryBaby to appear, as a new flower in the garden of life, I find myself recalling the old blooms which have been lost from my view, but whose scent still stirs my memories. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/portal/main.jhtml?xml=/portal/2007/05/04/nosplit/ftgo... I miss my Uncle Nick, and I sent the link above to my friend in my latest email to her, so I thought I would share it here. Now you guys can share my appreciation of a man who may not have changed the world, but whose presence enhanced mine. I liked both his wives, but loved him more. I still miss him, especially when I see a Natural History programme or whenever I wonder what a roast Tarantula spider might taste like. To life, to love, to loss and to you, Acme ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
"Un fer yersen..." is Yorkshire speak for "One for yourself." It's what you say to a barmaid in order to tip her. Some people take 20p, 50p, or £1, if they dare, when you say this. Only, there are rules which correspond to wherever you are visiting. For instance, if you say, "and your own." That gives a barmaid carte blanche to take out the cost of a gin and tonic, and because 'bar etiquette' changes from county to county, you have to be very careful about your disposable income  However, I made sure hubby gave me a £10 note for drinks, and when the amount came to £7.70, I told the girl "Call it £8." Thinking this would make the whole conversation easier... ...Bar Maid: "Eh?" Acme: "One for yourself." Bar Maid: "Wun fuwer yooerselln?" Acme: "Yes: One for yourself. Put it in the tin." Bar Maid: "Put-tit-tin-tin?" Acme: "Yes: put it in the tin." Bar Maid: "Put-tit-tin-tin? PUT-TIT-TIN-TIN?" It was at this point, realisation dawned on me: I was speaking in pure Lancharinian to a Yorkshire Lass; we had no hope. Acme: "Thanks." I took my change and thought a little more carefully about our lunch-time menu choices... We totally tired ourselves out by roaming the streets, visiting museums (smelled the poo at Yorvik ), and clambering around the city walls. Oh, and there was no Ghost Walking for BA's little legs, so we took the kids on a river trip with historical tour. It turned out we didn't need a ghost walk to get us in the mood for the macabre. Back at the old Victorian terrace we were staying at, the kids were frightening themselves silly! Our family room was at the top of a spiral staircase from the fourth landing. It led to an attic which was originally servants quarters and had dark wooden beams and oppressive atmosphere. After the obligatory ghost stories and 'comedy' scares from dad, they settled uneasily (now, that's what I call fun )This morning we all walked back into York. BA and hubby took an open-top city tour, whilst Jnr and I went to the cathedral (Minster) for the 10:00am Whitsun Pentecost mass. The choir was a-m-a-z-i-n-g. I've never heard anything like it before; it was truly moving and made a great mini-break very special Here are a couple of photos of our visit: ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Give a Yorkshire man a chance to whip out his instrument and he'll get his mates to polish their brass too... ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** In case you are wondering: all three of 'em are eating "mint-choc-chip" ice cream. They all thought I was mad for taking the "rum and rasin" option, but I can assure you all it was a real treat for this Bacardi Diva ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| ... the wonderful Bishop of York ! Sorry, I'm such a gay bloke at times (only without the stereotypical dress sense... or a willy... )Anyhoo! We are off to the minster for Pentecost (Whit Sunday). So, while all my American friends are enjoying Mother's Day, I'll be singing my little heart out in one of the beserest gothic cathedrals in Europe... poor Yorkshireinians, they won't know what to do with a Lancashire invasion. (One of the reasons I write is that I don't sing )http://www.yorkminster.org/ Faboo! It's actually a bit of a family treat, because hubby has a weekend free before he works away again, and my eldest had her 11th birthday today. So, there will be an Acme shaped hole in WDC over the weekend, but most of my loverely pals will be smothered mothered this weekend, so a quiet time for all at WDC is expected Love it. Have a good one, I know I will... because churchy stuff aside, I shall be smelling poo; historically accurate poo! http://www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk/ Followed by a bit of screaming in here: http://www.thedungeons.com/en/york-dungeon/index.html A bit of sad history at the treatment of Jews here: http://www.cliffordstower.com/ And my favourite thing to do in York (yup, I never get bored of doing this. In case of emergency, I could stand in for the tour guide ):http://www.ghosthunt.co.uk/  Mmmmwwwahh-ha-ha!** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| I always think today is a bit rude A lot of Robinsons are made today -- well, traditionally... May 1st is fertility-rite-tastic Sure, we still have the odd May-Pole to get the kids to skip around, and some other strange rituals, you don't think of as rituals, until you think about them (Spring Cleaning, First Cut, sunflower sowing for contests, Morris men, Rose Queen, etc, etc,).Time was, back in the old days, we'd be having a rite good time come the May celebrations and a fresh batch of newborns would miraculously appear to swell the community in the following February Now, traditionally, you were named after your role in the village (Carter, Fletcher, Baker etc.). The problem with thess sons and daughters of May Merriment was not many people could accurately note the fathers... They became Robin's Sons. Robin Goodfellow, being the proper name of the Green Man.http://www.mikeharding.co.uk/greenman/greenindex.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/gloucestershire/focus/2004/04/mayday04.shtml Hubby has come home sick from work and waits in bed for me. So, I'm off to sleep with my own green man ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| What a super, smashing day of days ! Not to mention the run up to it SATURDAY Family bowl-a-rama, round 2. The god of 10-pin smiled down upon me and showed me how to put the bumpers up Subsequently, my score has gone from the paltry 43 of last week, to the pitiable 68 score, which ranks me... LAST! In the family competition. Ah, well. It's just not my game. I still had a ball (pardon the pun) and was thrilled to see my knickers show up through my pants under the trendy UV lighting of the bowling alley The afternoon was spent in the company of my loverly twin, Vikki, her daughter and son, and her husband, so we were pitted against our family counterparts. Hubby vs Brother in Law = Brother in Law won Acme vs Twin = Twin won Acme Jnr vs Cousinette = Acme Jnr (egg of my womb!) Baby Acme vs Charlie = BA (her score beat all but her Uncle's - I'm so proud...) After all that exercise we decided a little culture was called for and broadened our horizons with some international cuisine - MEXICAN! Lovely burrito... and then home with a sleepy "Christmas Dinner" belly (belly-cheerful, I believe is the correct phrasiology). All I wanted was an Action movie on the telly and a can of beer; so I that's what I had - it's good to be the king...SUNDAY Went to church and played with card, straws and glue at Sunday School (  made some fab windmill fans  ). I let the kids make some too... Acme Jnr's friend was getting baptised and then we went home to watch hubby yell at sports on the telly (honestly, it is very entertaining as a spectator sport in its own right)Wrote a story! I know! When's the last time I did that? I was inspired to enter the stake & garlic contest. Although, anyone who knows me, knows my horror writing is akin to my skills with a bowling ball:It was a dark and stormy afternoon and the cricket had been rained off. I joined Caruthers at the old DeVil mansion. We just sat down for tiffin when the lights went out. "Don't go into the cellar!" Caruthers' manservant warned "No fear! I'm not daft." Said I, and we proceeded to play strip dominoes until an electrician could be found. The End. Actually, I rather like it *coughs and shuffles feet in pleading, yet adorable way* I'll, erm, just pop a link here for anyone passing
MONDAY On a roll! I wrote an entry for the Daily Flash and won Hurrah! I also did some really important and busy stuff, but can't for the life remember what it was... OH, YEAH I DO! I made lasagna, buttered, boiled potatoes and a green salad, and entertained some mutual friends of hubby and I - ACE!TUESDAY Went to work. This is quite a big thing for me, as I have never worked on my birthday before today. However, I think it's a testament to how much I enjoy my job that I wanted to include it in my day Then I met my fabulous mother in town for lunch and received some lovely gifts from her, and via her from other family members.Mother gave me cash (how well she knows me!) and so did hubby. With it I bought LOTS of cake , HP sauce, and Pickled Onion flavoured crisps... Ruby got me a pony. REALLY! Well, a card of one and a couple of toy ones in a photograph - still counts in my book. Vix got me book vouchers, because she knows they are never wasted and always gratefully received. The kids let me make them whatever I wanted to cook for breakfast and dinner (they are not daft: birthday cuisine is predominately crisp and cake based food groups).OH, and my Grecian Dad (well, ex-pat) phoned me today! The first time I've heard from him in six months and it was lovely to hear his voice. I want to thank everyone here at WDC for their lovely messages and thoughtful gifts - you know who you are I love you  All-in-all, I have had the besterest ever birthday in the universe* Thank you! *Not counting my 10th birthday disco, in Scotland, where I won a 'dance-off' with some smashing improvised body popping to win a Cyndi Lauper single - that is hard one to top ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| Right-oh! Have returned and am blogging whilst under the influence I took photographs, as I said I would, and have come to the realisation... I am Drew Barrymore Seriously, bear with me and try to follow my chain of thought... I go out looking ACE! All my bits for shaving are shaved. All my bits for plucking are plucked. Nails done, underwear matched (In Case of Emergency), and lipgloss supplied by 10 year-old: I AM DA BOMB (check out my slutty sultry good looks and fab cleavage  ) ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** I'm strutting around Walrus. I own the joint. I am the big I am when the sisters appear, also looking good. We pose for the obligatory picture and I am confident in my hotness... Then I find out I might like good taken in the context of ME, but next to Lucy Lu and Cameron Diaz, I AM THE DREW BARRYMORE. Listen to this! Honestly, this really happened BLOKE: "Hey Ruby! Take these Drugs as a birthday treat!" RUBY: "Erm, no thanks, *****. I am an athlete; my body is a temple." ACME: "There you have it, mi-lad-o. Move along now, we'll have no naughtiness here!" BLOKE: "Oh, and what's your temple, oh-reincarnation-of-Budah?" Ah, well, I happen to know some people like the pasty-faced, plump-breasted, writer-chick type... Only, I was too gob-smacked to do anything other than admire the accuracy of the shot. Actually, I'm exaggerating one little moment terribly I had a fantastic night out, and my ample bosom was admired by all I'm off to grab a coffee and sober up. Wanna see the Charlie's Angels photo? Here it is... Guess who is who (Yes, one of them really is my twin ) ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| You may be pleased to know... I'VE SHAVED MY LEGS It took three replacement blades and block of sandpaper, but it is done! To celebrate I popped clean, line-dry, sheets on the bed (mmm) and even washed the 'fro. Don't get me wrong I have much plucking of eyebrows, and clipping of toe-nails before I'm back to peak loveliness, but all shall be attended to before tonight: http://www.manchesterbars.com/walrus.htm I'm taking the camera phone so I can finally show you guys the uber fit, personal trainer, who is my NON-identical twin, and the Ruby (the one of extreme sports/ Cuban fame )Later! ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| Slow down, world! It might be your day today, but I'm getting dizzy . Sorry, if I haven't been around as much as usual; life's being a little full at the moment. Hubby got the new job (he started this week). I'm back to being a youth club leader, as well as an administrator, as well as ... well, a bazillion other things which I won't bore you with. Suffice to say, I feel like I'm letting a lot of folks down right now on WDC, my second home. I'm probably not! It's probably normal to wait a couple of days before you add to a campfire, but I'm used to doing it NOW! I actually found myself bemoaning the fact that Friday is out of the question for a 'catch up' session on the site, because I'm due out to celebrate my little sister's, followed by my twin's, birthdays. What bloomin' silly parents thought that one up, eh? As if that wasn't bad enough, I'm sat here smelling the rich Acme perfume of my armpits, typing a blog entry when I should really be showering. And you do not want to know about the leg stubble... believe me, I need quiet moment... just so I can do my mate, hbar  's, ace campfire, "Invalid Item" , and put a stop to hubby striking matches on my shins Still, look on the bright side! I could have something substantial to moan about Life is good; hairy, but good ! ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| Smashing just about sums me up today I woke to feel a thousand hammers smashing through my temples in my hangover Bacardi is not the same without the Divas, and hubby makes it too strong; I'm a wimp when it comes to alcohol... cheap night out though It's not big and it's not clever, but it was lovely at the time Anyhoo, smashing is also one of my fave expressions of delight, which is exactly how I felt once the paracetamol kicked in and I logged on to WDC. "Bored! Wanna read all day, until my eyeballs fall out!" (I love these kind of days, they mean I usually catch up on a ton of reviewing )So, I wonder over to 🦄🏳️🌈Sapph 's place and do a bit of Senior Mod reviewing, and then inspiration hits me: "I'll go and visit Mavis Moog !"It's weird, but there are certain places on the site where you know you are going to find hidden gems. I know we have a Shameless Plug Page, but I would rather visit the places where I know the diamonds are. One of them used to be the Shakespearean Sonnet contest: crap reviews , but for some reason the level of writing submitted was always high and a real treat to read. I find the same can be said of Mavis' "Invalid Item" , so I tootled over there to kick back for a bit.OMG! I could not believe the ACEness of finding myself with a 2nd place podium finish I know you shouldn't blow your own trumpet, but let's be honest, it is a contest which demands high quality writing, and I always enter for the honest and useful reviews given, rather than a serious contender for silverware. To say this is the best hangover I've ever had is an understatement. You think I would learn my lesson from watching Keanu battling his tendency to flatter vanity last night in Devil's Advocate, but no: I'm on cloud 9 and as happy as Larry (Lemme have this one? Just for 24 hrs? )** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| Well, a Grecian Dad I miss him. He went off to a new life in the sun back in October 2007 and I've finally heard from his wife, my step mother, so I at least know they exist. No one in their right mind ever gives me a scrap of paper with a jotted down phone number, or address. I'm crap! I use them as book marks, or handy scraps of paper to stop tables wobbling. Anyhoo, Dad forgets phone calls and addresses work both ways so any lack of communication is my fault. I was beginning to feel genuine worry for his well-being when his only grandson (my sister's kid) had his fourth birthday recently with no card, or acknowledgment. See, Christmas, birthdays, yada-yada-yada... they don't mean anything next to a male descendant, so when Charlie had a uncelebrated birthday, well that rang alarms like I don't know what. Like I said though, he must be okay, because all my step mother wrote in an email to my sister was: "Sorry about forgetting his birthday. DON'T FORGET YOUR DAD'S IS NEXT MONTH!" Anyway, when I got the email address from my sister I sent a mail and got the address on e-paper (which means I have less chance of losing it ). I've sent them a link to this blog too, so if they do feel any interest in playing catch up they can... Off to watch the Devil's Advocate... gosh, it's still a good film.. ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| Right-oh! I shall probably not be considered for the Olympic Ten Pin Bowling Team for the UK (if they have one... or if the Olympics host the event... or if the Olympics aren't boycotted by the World Federation of Ten Pin Bowlers... ) Suffice to say I was whipped, but in my defense, I must point out several points of consideration:  They only had really heavy balls left They were previously used by greasy fingered folk and I couldn't grip them They didn't bounce Hubby refused to let me have the training bars up on the gutters I wanted the kids to win The lane next to us always seemed to be bowling at the same time as me, and freaked out my peripheral vision I can't be good at everything Ah, well! Next time... oh, yes... ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| Okay, I'm a bit of gender bender on the outside. So is the hubby, which means we are well suited in that respect (I wear the pants). I've always felt a bit of a transvestite if I have to put on a frock, as they don't often go well with rippling biceps, 'fro, and tattoos . Likewise, hubby has never told me off for borrowing his moisturiser, and no word of a lie: he came in for me to check out his new body butter (WTF is that?) and I asked him to grab me a beer when he made his Port & Lemonade. Oh, and don't panic, my American friends, it is past 9pm here and the Bacardi Divas are no more. (I have so much to tell and so little time! It will serve as a lesson in blog upkeep.) Life has gone a little skew-iff (squew - wiff?) The chief Bacardi Diva has off-loaded a hubby and sold her house -- she is/was my neighbor, so I have to come to terms with non-Barcardi new-comers. New-comers make me nervous. Why? They might be normal Bless my lovely man, he asked me to come off-line for a while so he could share his day with me He has a new job in the pipe-line: he is a Health & Safety guy... I'm not entirely sure what it entails, but he is prematurely grey, suffers from ulcers and wants to please everyone and make sure they are safe: awww!I tried really hard not to watch Sporting Lisbon v Glasgow Rangers in the UEFA cup, but it went into stopage time and Rangers look like going through ...Anyhoo, having made an effort with the toe-nail clippers, I'm off to dazzle my man candy with my feminine wiles... the flesh is willing, but my mind is in Brazil. Love ya guys, I'll blog more later... about swimming, schools, Grecian dads, catholic mothers, race-course funerals, and gypsy family gatherings... Mental! ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
   HAPPY BIRTHDAY!Happy Birthday Kaya ! I've written you a birthday poem...I hope you have fun and a clown to spin plates I hope you have jelly and cream with your mates I hope you get pressies you want, and NO crap I hope cards fill your mantle with no room for gaps I wish you more wishes than you'll ever need I wish you laugh wildly until you have wee'd I wish you your health and God's blessing to take But, mostly, I wish that you'd save me some cake... All the best, pretty lady ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| I was so chuffed to be nominated for a Quill award, and it was smashing to see so many of my friends and their work nominated too. I love the WRITING.COMedy Lounge so it was ace to see one of our Loungers, Smiling Jack walk off with the comedy award, and mastery won 4 (it may be more! I'm rubbish at adding when I run out of thumbs). The community force of The Talent Pond made my day by winning the Group Award and the phenomenal Aussie, katherine76 brought hope the bacon with the BEST PORTFOLIO! . I'm over the moon, as I nominated both of them, so I officially have some taste Check out the other nominees, and the results, here:
** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| Ooh, I've had hubby off work for the past week and have made the most of it (lots of little jobs around the house have been attended to). We've also had the chance to grab more than a quickie, and short conversations about the weather, but it's also felt a little strained: not the relationship, as such, but the ability to spend time relaxing together. Both of us feel we should be doing something else! Having gotten used to rushing for grabbed minutes together, we have felt more like clandestine lovers than an old married couple. Both of us forgot our Anniversary (7 years married and 12 years all together) until it was on top of us. Consequently, it was my mum who provided cards and flowers, instead of each other I swear that woman is more organized than a diary printer.In other news: Acme Jnr got accepted to attend my old school. Can you believe how long the application process has taken? Anyway, the local paper ran an article saying 1,236 kids had applied for 218 place, making it most oversubscribed school in the area. It's not hard to think why, due to its brilliant reputation, and infamous attendees: ME! There's a picture of the place, I took when Jnr and I visited in the following entry "Invalid Entry" ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
